Gil Peles

Gil Peles

Gil Peles is an attorney with the Tauler Smith LLP litigation department. He has substantial experience in a broad range of litigation matters, including entertainment law, intellectual property law, employment law, corporate law, and general commercial disputes. He has also litigated on behalf of large and small companies, individuals, and celebrities in a wide array of industries.

Background

Gil Peles is an approved outside counsel and has worked as a contract in-house anti-piracy counsel for The Walt Disney Company. Prior to representing Disney, Mr. Peles worked for more than five years at a top international law firm.

Mr. Peles has published numerous articles in the field of intellectual property law, and his publications have been cited nationwide by more than 100 legal journals and media outlets, including the Harvard Journal of Sports & Entertainment Law, UCLA Entertainment Law Review, Connecticut Law Review, and Rutgers Law Review.

Education

Gil Peles received his Juris Doctor from the University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall), where he was awarded a Prosser Prize in Copyright Law and served as an editor and board member of the Berkeley Technology Law Journal. He also graduated with honors from the University of California at Berkeley, with undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Rhetoric.

Representative Legal Matters

Some of Gil Peles’ representative legal matters include:

  • No Doubt v. Activision Publishing, Inc.: Represented music band No Doubt in federal and state court dispute over breach of contract and misappropriation of the band’s intellectual property rights, leading to two highly cited, published opinions dealing with copyright and right of publicity law:
    • No Doubt v. Activision Publishing, Inc., 702 F. Supp. 2d 1139 (C.D. Cal. 2010)
    • No Doubt v. Activision Publishing, Inc., 192 Cal. App. 4th 1018 (2011)
  • Viacom International, Inc. v YouTube, Inc.: Represented class of plaintiffs in billion-dollar copyright infringement action.
  • Wasserman Media Group v. IMG, Inc.: Represented preeminent sports agent in employment dispute.
  • Adam Levine v. Activision Publishing, Inc.: Represented musician Adam Levine in dispute over breach of contract and misappropriation of the musician’s intellectual property rights.
  • Wrigley family case: Represented the estate of a member of the Wrigley family in litigation against a creditor. Drafted summary judgment motion, defeated a $1.8 million claim, and obtained a $1.5 million judgment for his client.
  • The Smashing Pumpkins v. Virgin Records America: Represented music band The Smashing Pumpkins in a legal dispute over false advertising, breach of contract, and intellectual property.

Legal Publications

Gil Peles’ publications including the following articles: